MG ZS EV test (2022) - A full -direction restyling

If you are told "MG", you may most certainly think of this British brand which produced, a few decades ago, sympathetic small roadsters.Times are changing, and they have changed for a long time for MG, since the brand has gone under Chinese pavilion since 2006, and has become the property of the SAIC group.

MG re -implanted in France in 2019, with a particularly interesting 100 % electric SUV thanks to a fairly formidable price/services ratio.So finished the roadsters, now make way for products in tune with the times and a real range that starts to point the tip.In the space of two years in France, the work of the manufacturer has already brought its fruit rather well, with nearly 5000 registrations over the year 2021.

At a time when we write these lines, the catalog consists of the Marvel R, a 100 % electric SUV which aims to be rather high -end, the EHS, a powerful rechargeable hybrid SUV of 258 horses, and finally the ZS EV,that we are trying today in its restyled version.In March 2022, the MG5 will also arrive in concession, a 100 % electric station wagon whose autonomy should be around 400 kilometers.Then come a 100 % electric city car and a sportswoman, also 100 % electric, which could be led to compete with the Tesla Roadster.

Stroke

Aesthetically, you will already notice some changes, with the abandonment of the black grille in favor of a full and textured grille of the same color as the bodywork.Enough to bring a little facelift to the model, especially since the optics and shields have also been redesigned.

Overall, the ZS EV seems generally more modern, less dull and "Passe-Partout" than the outgoing version.The only downside with the arrival of the full grille is that the charging hatch is now clearly visible when it was rather well hidden on the old version.But technically, changing space The recharge taking would have caused additional costs and not necessarily profitable for a restyling.

Progress everywhere

Inside, there is also change, and not just a little, with the abandonment of conventional meters in favor of a 7 -inch digital instrumentation system.The central touch screen grows and goes from 8 to 10.1 inch, with a new ISMART infotainment system compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.A new, more modern transmission selector also takes place in the center of the central console.

For once, the whole is more qualitative, with more neat materials and finishes which have nothing to envy to certain products of general brands, such as the ID.3 from Volkswagen.The central screen is much more reactive and the layout of the menus is also better, even if ergonomics, in our view, could have been a little better worked.Sometimes it is difficult to find your way among the many menus and submenus that make up the infotainment system.

At the rear, good surprise, despite the 4.32 meters of the machine (+ 9 millimeters compared to the first phase), the habitability is correct since two adults will be able to travel at their ease.The trunk also surprises with a beautiful capacity which varies from 488 to 1166 liters, which is excellent for a 100 % electric SUV of this segment.For comparison, a 4.71-meter Ford Mustang Mustang Mach-E AWD claims only 402 liters.Thank you to the batteries that do not cut space in the trunk thanks to their location under the floor.

Autonomy, recharging and batteries

Despite a very attractive price which could largely drop under the 20,000 euros with aid in France, the former MG ZS EV could put off certain customers because of its autonomy limited to 263 kilometers in WLTP cycle WLTP.For this restyling, MG reviews its copy and the ZS EV is now available under two configurations.

The entry -level "Standard" entry version has a 51 kWh battery allowing to supply a 177 horsepower engine and 280 Nm.The autonomy is announced at 320 kilometers.The other variant, called "extended autonomy", is unprecedented and offers up to 440 kilometers of autonomy under the WLTP cycle thanks to a 69.9 kWh battery (the same as MG Marvel R) connected to an engine of156 horses and 280 Nm.

For comparison, the first phase had a lithium-ion battery pack provided by CATL with a capacity of 44.5 kWh.At the front, we found a 143 horsepower engine and 350 Nm of torque.

On the road

For our test, we have had the right to the version which has been sold since the end of October 2021 in France, namely that with the largest battery and, therefore, the least powerful engine, in this caseThat of 156 horsepower for a relatively contained weight of 1620 kilos with our version with the "Luxury" finish.The 0 to 100 km/h is acceptable with 8.6 seconds announced, and the maximum speed was raised from 140 to 175 km/h.

Once installed on board, same problem as for the old ZS EV, the driving position is hardly suited to us, with too high a seat and a too low steering wheel.Never mind, we are starting to be used to electric cars.We therefore leave the Paris region and the headquarters of MG Motor in France for a route that will oscillate between secondary roads and some village crossings, which should not start our battery too much, which displays a range greater than 400 kilometers leaving Paris.

Three driving modes are available: "comfort", "normal" and "sport".These three modes play on the autonomy and the display of the remaining autonomy adapts according to the selected mode.In "comfort" mode, the car is sort of restrained and speeding is less vigorous.Nevertheless, this system is perfectly suited in urban areas.The "normal" mode is certainly the best of three modes, with good homogeneity in terms of commands and the response to acceleration.

The "sport" mode is a caricatural hair, especially in terms of management, with a more pronounced but very anti-natural consistency.The car has a "KERS" system, namely braking energy recovery which is adjustable on three levels, from one to three, three being the strongest level and which allows you to happen, in 90 %cases, friction braking.

Compared to the old, at a sustained rhythm, the structure now seems better kept, in particular thanks to a work carried out at the chassis and rolling trains.This is particularly visible when braking a hair leaning or on certain supports, the roll of roll is less pronounced and the front axle is generally better guided by a significant consistency direction.

The MG ZS EV has a level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with the adaptive cruise control associated with the lane maintenance system.As much as these technologies are almost convincing on the main axes, you will have to quickly cut the help of keeping the way on nationals since the system will intervene a little too often and above all anyhow, with sometimes violent returns inThe direction.

In terms of consumption, on a course oscillating between national and urban areas, we noted an average consumption of 18.7 kWh/100 kilometers, a correct figure that could have been even lower if we had practiced eco-driving.

During our test, which took place on a good half-day, we did not have the opportunity to recharge the battery.MG announces that the ZS can receive a maximum charging power of 100 kW on a fast terminal, enough to go from 10 to 80 % in 32 minutes.It will take 4:30 am on an 11 kW terminal, just over 6:30 am on a 7.4 kW and 9 pm terminal on a classic domestic socket.

At what prices?

Regarding prices, the restyled ZS EV "Standard autonomy" begins from 30,990 euros, or 1000 euros more than the old model, always out of ecological bonus.At this price, the standard endowment is generous in "Comfort" finish with, among other things, automatic air conditioning, semi-autonomous driving in the event of traffic jam, or the 10.1 inch touch screen and optics to opticsLED.The "extended autonomy" version begins from 34,990 euros.

The second finish level called "Luxury" claims 32,990 euros with the small battery and 36,990 euros with the big.All models are eligible for the maximum bonus of 6000 euros in France (until June 30, 2020, then it will drop to 5000 euros).It adds, in addition to the equipment of the "Comfort" finish the automatic wipers, the 360 degree camera, the induction charger, the panoramic sunroof, the monitoring of the dead angles or it is a novelty onThe ZS, the rear perpendicular traffic alert.

The final word

The enormous advantage of ZS EV is obviously its undeniable quality/price ratio, and even if the prices increase compared to the first phase, all this is quickly compensated by an improvement quality, a more modern interior, technologies that are just as much, and autonomy revised fairly widely up.

Competition always has something to be worried, and not just a little.The Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia E-Niro actually offer more autonomy, but are also more expensive for equivalent equipment.French SUVs, namely the Peugeot E-2008 and DS 3 Crossback E-Tense do not necessarily do better in terms of autonomy because of their gargantuan consumption, they do not benefit from the same level of equipment either and are alsomore expensive.

There is hardly only his Chinese compatriot, Seres 3, which can be a serious competitor, but it does not offer a large battery variant like the ZS EV, while some of its services, in particular,are not necessarily at the same level as the MG.